PENTICTON — It was a tragic event that shook the Osoyoos Indian Band four years ago, leaving one young man dead and his brother arrested for second-degree murder. Kyle Louie, 26, has since pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. At a sentencing hearing Wednesday, the court heard how Kyle and Reece Louie, who was 21-years-old at the time, were inseparable but would often have violent fights when drinking alcohol. That’s what happened on February 19, 2011.
Crown Counsel read from an agreed statement of facts, revealing that the two brothers got into a fist fight at work over $30 Reece owed Kyle’s then-girlfriend.
They were fired from work and told to leave. The argument escalated when they returned home.
Reece was found staggering down the driveway, suffering from multiple stab wounds. He died later in hospital of blood loss.
Arbogast says his client had blacked out and had no memory of what had happened.
The court heard how the brothers were smoking crystal meth the night before and drinking whiskey prior to going to work.
The defense lawyer says when Kyle learned he killed his brother, his world crumbled.
“Kyle wanted to end his life, he didn’t really understand what he had done,” says Arbogast.
“He thought everything was at an end. He lost his family, he lost his best friend, he realized that he was responsible even though he didn’t have any memory to it.”
In a joint submission, defense and Crown are asking more than 6 years of prison time and for Kyle to be designated as a long-term offender.
If the judge agrees, Kyle will only have to serve six months because of enhanced credit earned from time already served.
The court will reconvene Thursday when the judge will deliver his decision.
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